Continuing The Philosophy of... series from British Library Publishing, this witty history of wine – its cultivation and enjoyment – sheds light on the rich traditions of wine from around the world. An apt gift for oenophiles everywhere, it includes chapters on the development of wine production – from casks to bottles and from feet to presses – as well as tracing the global shift of wine production from traditional wine-producing regions to emerging wine exporters.

With a selective focus on unexpected facts and lesser-known characters connected with wine, from the Greek god of wine, to the monks who created Champagne and the first wine smugglers, this gift edition explores the historical influences that have shaped our drinking taste. It even comments on the effect of global warming, and where the story of wine might be going next…

Ruth Ball is the award-nominated author of Rebellious Spirits and, most recently, Rough Spirits and High Society (British Library, 2017). She is the founder of Alchemist Dreams, a company dedicated to handmade liqueurs that are blended to order.